Living in Spain also means experiencing local traditions, festivals and celebrations. The country’s cultural richness is beyond question. As a result, Spaniards enjoy a substantial number of public holidays. What’s more, in addition to the national holidays, each autonomous community has its own! To help you plan your stay in Spain, Stud&Globe has compiled a list of these days and their meanings.
The majority of national holidays are religious and, as in France, are linked to the country’s Christian roots. We therefore have a number of days offs in common with Spain. However, other holidays are celebrated on the Iberian Peninsula but not in France:
Spain’s national holiday was originally created to commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus on October 12, 1492. Today, Hispanic identity is celebrated more widely, including in Latin America. To avoid confusion in some South American countries, this day is called “Día de la raza”.
December 6 marks the vote in the referendum establishing the constitution of the Spanish state. The latter dates back to 1978 and governs all the country’s institutions, as well as the rights and duties of its citizens. This constitution, still in force today, is organized around 169 articles divided into 11 titles. This date marks the transition from a totalitarian Spain led by the dictator Franco to a democratic Spain.
Each autonomous community in the Kingdom of Spain has its own festivities and traditions. Similarly, every region has its own “national holiday”. Certain public holidays derive from them:
Horaires : 9h00 à 18h00 du lundi au dimanche
Depuis la France +33 1 87 65 28 12
Depuis l’Espagne +34 931 59 18 57
Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Sunday
From France +33 1 87 65 28 12
From Spain +34 931 59 18 57
